The BBC in Scotland: The First Fifty Years by Walker, David Pat - 2011

UK: Luath Press Ltd, 2011. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 15.9 x 2.5 x 23.5 cm. In its first 50 years the BBC in Scotland made its own unique contribution to broadcasting. It encouraged a vast array of local talent in different parts of the country, producing programmes encompassing plays, talks, short stories, poetry, sport, Gaelic, religion, education, farming and music alongside a series of challenging outside broadcasts. Its creative talents made headlines outside the uk with a spoof news bulletin, Broadcasting the Barricades, a decade ahead of Orson Welles War of the Worlds on American radio. It started Lift Up Your Hearts A Thought for Today for wartime listeners, while Radio Padre brought similar comfort along with coded messages for prisoners of war, escapees and resistance fighters tuning in abroad. Later on, its television and radio news, current affairs, features, light entertainment and more all made their indelible mark on Scotland s viewers and listeners. The key figure in the story of British broadcasting was a Scot, John Reith, who took great personal interest in the development of the British Broadcasting Company (later Corporation) in Scotland. But who were these early Scottish broadcasters? What were their challenges? What did they achieve? How did the service grow over its first 50 years? David Pat Walker offers an insider s look at the events that shaped the nation s broadcaster. From the early, frantic radio broadcasts of the 1920s to coded war broadcasts and the promotion of Scottish drama, the BBC s first 50 years served to define an institution whose influence continues to the present day. David Pat Walker s account of the BBC in Scotland during its first 50 years is an important work. It identifies what went on in the formative periods of one of the nation s most enduring and influential institutions. It also ensures that the huge contribution made by a remarkable group of talented men and women to the cultural life of Scotland is not left forgotten on their respective editing room floors. --Mike Shaw, former editor with BBC Scotland, Head of English Language Service at Radio Netherlands World Service Review Walker's account ... ensures that the huge contribution made by a remarkable group of talented men and women to the cultural life of Scotland is not left forgotten on their respective cutting room floors. --Mike Shaw, Broadcaster About the Author David Pat Walker's connection to the BBC began in Glasgow in his early life and his career with the corporation began to take shape when he joined the new television service in 1952. Working his way up the company to the position of Acting Controller in 1975, he played a key role in building up the Edinburgh base of BBC Scotland and made a notable contribution to the development of The Beechgrove Garden.